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China urges coordination mechanism in APEC
(Xinhua)
Updated: 2004-07-29 09:53
China on Wednesday proposed the establishment of a coordination mechanism in
transport industry to the gathering of transportation ministers of the
Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation (APEC) in Bali, Indonesia.
"To provide a safer environment for trade and investment liberalization, we
propose the establishment of a coordination mechanism for the regular exchange
of safety and security information in the APEC region," said Yang Yuanyuan,
Minister of the Civil Aviation Administration of China (CAAC).
He made the remarks during the 4th APEC Transportation Ministerial Meeting
attended by ministers or their representatives of 21 APEC economies.
Minister Yang said such coordination will help enhance safety and security
cooperation among APEC members and improve the overall transport safety and
security in the region.
Another China's proposal in the three-day meeting is for the APEC to advance
transport market liberalization independently and in coordination.
In view of the diverging levels of economic development and regulatory system
of APEC economies, "we maintain that economies set their own pace and manner for
liberalization in light of their own specific conditions," Yang said.
In the meantime, "we need to step up coordination with one another in the
process of the liberalization so as to facilitate the free movement of trade and
investment in this region," he added.
Yang stressed that China attaches great importance to cooperation and
development in the Asia-Pacific transport industry and supports the overall
objectives of APEC in the field of transport.
"Recent years have witnessed China's continued contribution to the industry
in this region by enhancing air safety and security, opening up air transport
market and stepping up cooperation with APEC economies," he said.
He noted that last year, total air traffic turnover volume in China reached
nearly 17 billion tons/kilometer with 1,155 scheduled air routes connecting
China's domestic cities and 72 cities in 32 countries.
In the same year, the Chinese civil aviation industry underwent the most
profound reform in more than 20 years, with the consolidation of air carriers
and transfer airports to local governments, he said.
While saying that China's air transport system is moving toward greater
safety, openness and dynamism, Yang underlines that China's transport industry
depends on cooperation amongst the Asia-Pacific economies.
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